JUSTIN ROSE admitted he watched Phil Mickelson's dramatic success at the US Masters with a "slight sense of what could have been" - but vowed he would one day win the coveted Green Jacket.

The 23-year-old north Hamp-shire star led golf's first Major of the season by two shots at the half-way stage, after superb rounds of 67 (-5) and 71 (-1).

But a disastrous 81 (+9) on "moving day" Saturday saw Rose's chances of a first Major title slip away.

He ended his challenge with a 71 (-1) to finish on +2 in what was only his second appearance at the Augusta National.

Rose then had to do what golf fans across the world did on Sunday night - watch the exciting final holes' action on TV - instead of participating in the battle for the Green Jacket himself.

Left-hander Mickelson sealed his first Major title with a crucial birdie at 18 to finish on -9 and triumph by one shot from Ernie Els.

It left Rose wondering what might have been, but the pragmatic golf ace knows he has the ability to succeed in the future where he just failed this year.

Rose said: "All in all, it's been a week where I feel I have gone forward in the game and learned a lot.

"I feel I am definitely a step closer to winning one of the Majors.

"When I look back on the week, I have proved to myself that my long game is good enough and I just have to work harder on my putting.

"Saturday's round really could have been salvaged with the putter.

"The other thing I noticed is that I actually didn't play the par fives well - except for the eighth today, where I holed a lob wedge for eagle - which can be a key to Augusta.

"I didn't drive it on the fairway often enough on these holes, which has also been a trend for the year."

Rose's dream start on Thursday, and consolidatory second round, left him in what he said was a "position you always dream about".

He added: "You dream of leading the Masters, but it was difficult to enjoy it.

"Everything just went crazy - especially the phone - so I had an hour on Thursday where I tried to enjoy it before focusing on the second round.

"After I'd played on Friday, I felt that shooting one-under-par and leading from the front would help me going out in the final pairing on Saturday."

But then came the 81 that cost Rose the chance of victory. However, he refused to be too down-hearted about it.

He said: "No matter what happened, it was going to be a great learning experience.

"I felt good on the range beforehand and was swinging well, but every minor mistake I made got punished. On the first two days, that didn't happen.

"Obviously, I am disappointed, but at 23, it's not the end of the world. I know I am good enough to win here one day."